The Titanic Submarine Disaster: A Tale of Ignored Warnings and Questionable Safety Standards.
On June 22, the wreckage of the Titan submarine was found on the seabed, just 500 yards from the Titanic. The submarine, which was steered by a PlayStation controller and used components bought from Camping World, suffered a catastrophic implosion, leading to the death of the five passengers onboard. The tragedy has raised serious questions about the safety standards of the submarine and why warnings from experts were apparently ignored.
The Titan Submarine: A Mixture of Bespoke Engineering and Off-the-Shelf Parts
Ocean Gate, the company that owned the Titan submarine, stated on its website that the sub was a blend of bespoke engineering and off-the-shelf parts. This combination, they claimed, made the sub easy to repair. However, the decision to use these components has now come under scrutiny.
David Pogue, a reporter who took a ride on the sub last year, reported that it used lighting and handles bought from Camping World, and rusted scaffolding was used as ballast. He described the craft as "jerry-rigged" and "macgyvered," with many parts being less sophisticated than expected, including a knockoff PlayStation controller used for steering.
Safety Concerns and Ignored Warnings
Despite the questionable components and construction of the sub, Ocean Gate CEO Stockton Rush maintained that the pressurized container where the passengers sat was state of the art, made of carbon fiber and titanium. He claimed that NASA, Boeing, and Washington University had assisted in the design. However, he did admit that his biggest fear was getting stuck and being unable to surface.
Several experts had raised safety concerns about the Titan submarine. One engineer was even fired after voicing his concerns. Another man refused to ride the sub after seeing how it was built, and one passenger described his voyage as "suicide."
The Tragic Outcome
The Titan submarine operated in international waters, meaning it was outside the remit of government agencies. Passengers had to sign a waiver before boarding, acknowledging that the craft was experimental and had not been approved by any regulator. Ocean Gate argued that the approval process was anathema to rapid innovation.
However, the tragic outcome has raised serious questions about the safety standards of the Titan submarine and the dismissal of expert warnings. The remains of the sub have now been found, and the five Titanic tourists who paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to descend 12,500 feet in the Titan submarine have vanished without a trace.
Conclusion
The Titanic submarine disaster serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safety standards and the potential consequences of ignoring expert warnings. As investigations continue, it is hoped that lessons will be learned to prevent such a tragedy from happening again in the future.